Maiden claimers make pick six doable Thursday

CYPRESS, Calif. – Pick six carryovers are adding zing to the spring meet at Los Alamitos, and maiden-claiming races are helping make the pick six affordable.

A $41,654 carryover, the fifth carryover in eight days, is up for grabs Thursday as Los Alamitos enters the final week of its short meet. Closing day is Sunday, and opening day at Santa Anita is Thursday, May 5.

Bettors are expected to add at least $175,000 to the Los Alamitos pick six Thursday, and budget-conscious tickets will appreciate a sequence (races 3-8) that includes two races for the lowest and most predictable class – $20,000 maiden claiming.

Favorites at this meet are 6 for 7 at the $20,000 maiden-claiming level. It is not a fluke. The lowest class in Southern California historically produces the highest percentage of winning favorites. During the long winter meet at Santa Anita, favorites won 14 of 30 at the level.

Races 3 and 5 on Thursday make things simple. Pick six tickets might not need many runners to survive either maiden $20,000 claimer; both races include two entrants who stand out. The remaining races, however, are deeper. Below is a look at the pick six on an unusual card – every horse entered Thursday is entered for a claim tag.

Race 3: Twosome and Lob City, in the money in three straight, are the principals in this one-mile race for fillies and mares, $20,000 maiden claiming. Twosome drops for the first time to the bottom; Lob City finished more than six lengths clear of third last out.

Race 4: Secret Room drops, adds blinkers, and could set the pace in this $50,000 claiming sprint for 3-year-olds. It is curious however, that the drop in class is accompanied by fast works. Until recently, Secret Room had never posted a bullet work; now he has two while entered for a tag. Either the colt is doing well or his connections want him claimed, or both. Classico and Weirdhaircut Seth will be running late, hoping Secret Room misfires again.

Race 5: Armored Car and Spirit World are the keys in this $20,000 maiden-claiming sprint. Armored Car lost three straight as the favorite but could go favored once again while dropping to the bottom and shortening to a sprint, both for the first time. Spirit World has four runner-up finishes from seven starts, all at this level. One of these days, he will win.

Race 6: Shiny Nugget is the horse to beat in this $16,000 claiming sprint for 3-year-olds. His three starts produced two wins and a second; he was claimed from a win last out by Steve Knapp, who is 5 for 14 first off the claim since the fall of 2014. Trainer Steve Miyadi entered the first-off-the-claim Courageous Dave and the troubled-last-out Cherokee Dynasty. Redneck Crazy has run races that fit.

Race 7: Johns Journey is the speed of this $8,000 claiming sprint for non-winners this year. Johns Journey could be long gone while shortening to 5 1/2 furlongs, a distance at which pacesetters have won six of the last 11 races. Mr. Itkins finished a better-than-it-looked fourth in his comeback and will be running late.

Race 8: Dustin’s Passion, the runner-up in a productive race (two next-out winners), looks like the right choice in this one-mile, $10,000 claiming race for non-winners this year. Deputy’s Command drops from open company; Jonny’s Choice will set the pace; The Gold Monkey will rally late.